Apparatus for moving containers

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for moving containers containing substances, comprising a plane, for the transport, movement and at least temporary storage of said containers, mobile along transit paths developing at least along an axis of movement to serve several machines or user devices.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a movement apparatus that serves to loadand/or unload products onto and/or from loading planes.

More precisely, the movement apparatus according to the presentinvention is suitable to load and unload one or more rows of containerssimultaneously, advantageously, but not only, containers inside which asubstance may be present.

According to one application, the invention is applied in relation tolyophilization and/or sterilization machines.

According to a secondary application, variants of the invention areapplied in relation to planes to transport, move and store containersfor pharmaceutical or food use, suitable to collaborate in one or moreoperating functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that a lyophilization and/or sterilization machine is acomplex device where the product is transformed, inside a processingchamber, for example a lyophilization and/or sterilization chamber, intoa substance that maintains the characteristics of the original product,but without water.

A lyophilization and/or sterilization machine generally comprises saidprocessing chamber, inside which at least a loading plane is disposed,on which the containers are leaned and disposed, generally in an orderedmanner, and in which the substances contained therein are subjected tolyophilization and/or sterilization.

There is also normally a movement apparatus present, the function ofwhich is to load and/or unload the loading plane, and possibly anotherdisplacement apparatus located in front of the processing chamber, thefunction of which is to position the containers that will then be loadedonto the loading plane, and also to discharge them once they have beenremoved from the loading plane.

There is also a preparation plane present, fixed or mobile in relationto the loading plane, onto which the containers arrive for loading orunloading the loading plane.

One or more rows of containers to be introduced into said lyophilizationchamber are normally organized on the preparation plane. Moreover, therows of containers exiting from the lyophilization chamber areprogressively taken onto the same preparation plane, to be sentelsewhere.

A processing chamber of the type in question also has at least a sealingdoor, which separates the chamber from the surrounding environment.

A lyophilization and/or sterilization machine normally works at lowtemperatures, even as low as around −50° C.

The pressures that can be reached in the lyophilization and/orsterilization chambers can also reach 0.3 mbar.

In some exceptions, such machines can reach high temperatures. Machinesare also known that can reach as much as 140° C. and more, to performthe sterilization.

Machines are known which perform functions of lyophilization andsterilization.

Hereafter, and in the claims, the term lyophilization machine willinclude both a lyophilization machine, a sterilization machine and alyophilization and sterilization machine.

Given the pressures and temperatures at which a processing chamber, forexample a lyophilization chamber, can work, it is quite clear howimportant it is to ensure that said machine has no infiltrations orthermal or fluid bridges, even if controlled.

Given the products that are to be transported therein, it is alsonecessary that there are means present that cannot be subjected,directly or indirectly, to leakages and/or the production of powdersand/or pollutant products. It is therefore necessary that said chambersdo not have inside them, either temporarily or permanently, structuresthat in themselves generate powders and/or pollutant products, or sufferleakages or heat bridges.

It is therefore important that, inside it or in temporary connectionwith the inside, the lyophilization machine has the lowest number ofelements that can affect the power required, the cycle times and thecontamination of the environment inside the machine.

Furthermore, since the products treated inside the containers can besubstances used for pharmaceuticals or food, there must not be sourcesof pollutants, contaminating products or powders inside the processingchamber, nor must there be energy sources, electric or magnetic or othertype of sources that can or could interact with one or another of thesubstances in the containers.

It is known to provide that the lyophilization chamber cooperates withone or two thruster bars that thrust rows of containers to be subjectedto, or already subjected to lyophilization, inside or outside. The barsare driven by thrusters or drive means that extend outside thelyophilization machine.

These solutions not only generate and/or maintain possible communicationpaths between the outside and the inside of the processing chamber, butalso generate possible powders or pollutant substances, so that theyrequire controls and connected cleaning cycles that are frequent andcostly.

For certain loading and/or unloading operations of the containersonto/from the loading plane, it is also known to use a robot havingseveral degrees of freedom of movement. In this case the chamber, forexample lyophilization chamber, is not affected by external factorsduring the lyophilization cycle, but large bulks are affected in frontof the access compartment for the installation and movement of therobot, creating a useless occupation of space and problems duringcleaning and maintenance. Such problems increase overall times andtherefore affect the processing cycles.

Devices are also known for moving containers for lyophilization machinesthat allow to load and unload containers by thrusting them, from loadingplanes inside the processing chamber, but which have the disadvantagethat they remain at least partly inside the chamber also during theprocessing. This entails frequent maintenance operations and cleaning ofsuch devices because, since they remain in the processing chamber, theyare subjected to potentially damaging work conditions, and also becausethey introduce a risk factor for the contamination or dirtying of theprocessing chamber.

Systems are also known that include cars, which sweep the planes wherethe containers are amassed, so as to load and unload the containers.These known cars are driven by linear motors whose positive part acts onthe negative part of the linear motor. The linear motors extend bothinside and outside the processing chamber.

If the active part of the active linear motors is fixed inside theprocessing chamber, possible magnetic forces, continuous or residual,are inadmissible when there are certain substances present in thecontainers.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a movement apparatus,suitable to load and/or unload products on loading planes, so that oncethe plane or planes has/have been loaded, the movement apparatus doesnot remain confined inside the processing chamber, for example thelyophilization and/or sterilization chamber, at the same timemaintaining a compact and limited configuration of the service spacesinside the chamber.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a movementapparatus that does not require frequent maintenance interventions orcleaning cycles for the lyophilization and/or sterilization machine.

Another purpose of the present invention is to simplify both the stepsof maintenance and cleaning of the lyophilization and/or sterilizationmachine.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a movementapparatus that does not generate pollutant products during the loadingand/or unloading and transport steps.

Another purpose of the invention is to obtain a movement apparatus thatis reliable and precise in moving the containers, that has a movement asconsistent as possible with the desired trajectories and that is easilyadjustable and alignable even during use.

Another purpose is to prevent devices or parts of devices from remaininginside the processing chamber that generate or emit magnetic, electricor other type of forces, even only in residual form.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an autonomousmovement apparatus.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a movementapparatus that can be managed by a station also disposed at a certaindistance from the machine, and possibly can be managed automatically.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a movementapparatus that can be managed by control and management means.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a movementapparatus suitable to transfer itself on, and operate with, a movementand transport and at least temporary storage plane.

Another purpose is to obtain a movement and transport plane, temporallyoperating on the front of the lyophilization and/or sterilizationmachine and suitable to cooperate with other machines and/or operatingstations according to desired sequences.

Another purpose is to obtain a movement, transport and at leasttemporary storage plane which uses one or more autonomous movementapparatuses.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention toovercome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain theseand other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independentclaims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of theinvention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, forms of embodiment describedhere concern a lyophilization and/or sterilization machine provided witha processing chamber associated with a sealing door. The machineprovides a movement apparatus according to the present invention, whichovercomes the limits of the state of the art and eliminates the defectsfound therein, used particularly but not exclusively for loading and/orunloading, on suitable planes of the machine, containers containingsubstances to be lyophilized and/or sterilized.

According to a variant of the invention, the movement apparatus is alsosuitable to cooperate with a transport, movement and at least temporarystorage plane, hereafter, for brevity, transport plane.

According to another variant, the transport, movement and at leasttemporary storage plane is equipped with its own movement apparatusaccording to the present invention.

According to the invention, a preparation plane is provided, on whichthe containers arrive for loading or unloading, which is equipped withthe movement apparatus according to the present invention and whichbecomes a transport, movement and at least temporary storage plane.

According to the present invention, the movement apparatus comprisesguide means that extend at least partly inside and outside theprocessing chamber.

The guide means are arranged at least on one side of the loading plane.

In some forms of embodiment, the guide means are configured to cooperatewith at least a mobile slider consisting of at least a slider mean.

Between the guide mean and the mobile slider, movement means areprovided, for the desired and controlled displacement of the mobileslider. The mobile slider may include drive means to drive at least themovement means and energy supply means suitable to feed the drive means.The drive means and energy supply means are provided directly on boardthe mobile slider.

According to another variant, second guide means, or transit means,extend as far as other work stations, allowing the transport, movementand at least temporary storage plane to cooperate with the other workstations too, said plane being equipped with its own movement means.

According to a variant, the guide means are arranged at the two sides ofthe loading plane.

The guide means according to the present invention cooperate with thesealing door associated with the processing chamber. This cooperationcan be achieved in a fixed interruption, that is, an interruption thatis achieved when the sealing door is closed.

A variant provides that the guide means extend on the transport,movement and at least temporary storage plane which can cooperatedirectly or indirectly with the entrance mouth of the lyophilizationmachine and with one or more operating units or stations.

According to a first variant, the guide means are fixed.

According to a second variant, the guide means have, or are equippedwith, drawing means.

At least one slider mean cooperates with the guide means, and containsthe movement apparatus which, in the case of the first variant, that is,with fixed guide means, include movement means able to overcome thepossible interval present in the guide means.

In the case of guide means located at the two sides of the loadingplane, according to the present invention there are respective slidermeans present at least one of which contains a movement apparatus.

The transport, movement and at least temporary storage plane accordingto a variant has autonomous positioning and displacement means.

In the case of the transport, movement and at least temporary storageplane, movement apparatuses are present in the plane itself, or are atleast temporarily associable with the plane.

According to a first solution, in the case of two slider means, theslider means are connected by mechanical or electronic collimationmeans, so as to align them and make them parallel so that they move in acoordinated manner. The collimation means can be, for example, optical,laser, encoders or any other type.

In the second variant solution, that is, with guide means equipped withdrawing means, when the guide means are located at the two sides of theloading plane, or on one side only, at least one of the guide means hasdrawing means, such as a belt or screw, or magnetic or suchlike, whichcooperate with means on the slider mean so as to supply the desired andcontrolled displacement to the slider mean.

According to a variant, in the case of two slider means that move alongthe guide means, the slider means are independent.

According to one feature of the present invention, in the case of twoslider means, in cooperation between guide means and slider means, thereare movement means that generate the movement of the slider mean alongthe guide means in a controlled and autonomous manner.

According to one formulation of the invention, in the case of one slidermean, the slider mean is provided with drawing rod means.

According to the variant of the two slider means, the slider means cancooperate in relation to at least one drawing rod mean.

According to a variant, in the case of two independent slider means,each cooperates with its own drawing rod mean.

Hereafter, whether it is a single slider mean or two slider means,collimated or mobile individually, when they are completed by thedrawing rod, they constitute the mobile slider.

According to a secondary feature, in the case where at least one of theguide means has its own movement means, the movement means are providedwith means that are associated with the slider mean in order to generatethe controlled advance and retreat of the mobile slider along the guidemeans.

According to a variant, the slider mean is provided with wheels thatpossibly cooperate with a closed-ring track-type movement mean.

According to another variant, instead of the closed ring the movementmeans consist of several wheels, advantageously at least three.

According to another variant, the wheels are at least marginallypivoting horizontally so as to follow any possible lack of linearity inthe respective guide means and/or to facilitate passage beyond thepossible interval present therein.

According to one feature of the present invention, at least one wheel ofthe movement means is a drive wheel.

The drawing rod mean, or drawing rod, has two positions of interferencewith the containers to be moved, a front one and a rear one, so that therear position is advantageously the thrust position of the containers onthe loading plane. The front position is advantageously the unloadingposition.

According to a variant, the drawing rod has at least two positions,which are obtained by positioning it vertically, or by making it rotatearound an axis of rotation.

The first position is such that the drawing rod is positioned in a highposition, that is, where it does not interfere with the containers.

The second position is such that the drawing rod is positioned in aposition of interference with the containers, so that it is able to drawthem into or extract them from the loading plane.

The high position allows the slider means to move along the sides of theloading plane, or the preparation plane, or the transport plane, or onthe guide means, without interfering with the containers present there.

According to one form of embodiment, the slider mean is driven by atleast a rotary cable, possibly of the type that slides betweenprotective sheaths and able to cooperate with a distributor, whichpossibly selects the motion, present in the slider mean.

According to a variant, two rotary cables are present, one of the cablesbeing suitable to supply motion to advancement means that advance themobile slider and the other suitable to drive the positioning means ofthe drawing rod.

Remote means drive the rotation of the cables and control the angularposition thereof.

According to another form of embodiment, the mobile slider is driven byat least one drive mean which can be electric, mechanical or magnetic.

According to a variant, the electric or magnetic motor is fed by acorresponding electric cable, which can possibly also carry control andcommand functions.

According to another variant, the electric motor is driven by batteries,or electric energy accumulators or other rechargeable sources ofelectric energy, located on board the mobile slider.

In other variants, in the case of a mechanical motor, it can be fed byspring means or suchlike, suitable to accumulate releasable mechanicalenergy.

According to a variant, remote command means, for example a cable orradio wave or other mean, activate selector means present in the mobileslider that allow the electric motor to drive the drive wheels and/orthe drawing rod.

According to another variant, an electric or mechanical motor operatesto position the drawing rod.

According to a first form of embodiment of the invention, the electricand/or mechanical motor is a motor with a rotation shaft to transfermotion.

According to another form of embodiment of the invention, the electricmotor is a magnetic linear motor.

According to a first variant, the slider mean is associated directly to,or is the magnetic linear motor.

According to another variant, the slider mean slides in relation to amagnetic linear motor, which at least partly constitutes the guidemeans.

According to a variant, instead of the magnetic linear motor a track maybe provided, or a screw, or again similar or comparable means, whichinduce the desired and controlled movement in the mobile slider andwhich are driven by drive means cooperating with the guide means.

In the case of energy sources on board the mobile element, means torecharge the energy sources are provided in relation at least to thestand-by position that characterizes the mobile element during thelyophilization cycle.

The spirit of the invention provides both that control, command andmanagement means are present, and also, as a variant, that on board themobile slider there is a control and command unit that dialogs with thecontrol, command and management means located elsewhere, or the controland command unit itself constitutes control, command and managementmeans.

The control and command unit is able to recognize its own position, thatis, the unit or place where the mobile slider or the transport plane is.

According to the invention, the mobile slider can transfer on themovement, transport and at least temporary storage plane, or transportplane, in order to cooperate therewith, in the operating positions wheresaid plane is translated for loading and/or unloading, totally orpartially, the containers present on said plane or to be positioned onsaid plane.

According to the invention, the movement and transport plane can havefixed guides or guides that have means to move the mobile slider.

Furthermore, other forms of embodiment concern a movement apparatus tomove containers containing substances that comprise transit pathsdeveloping at least along an axis of movement to serve several machinesor user devices, and at least a movement and transport and at leasttemporary storage plane for the containers, which is provided withautonomous slider-type movement means to move the transport plane alongthe transit paths, and with energy supply means to feed the slider-typemovement means.

The present invention also concerns a plant comprising a plurality ofmachines or user devices to receive or supply containers containingsubstances and a movement apparatus as described here.

According to other forms of embodiment, the present invention alsoconcerns a movement apparatus suitable to be used in association with alyophilization and/or sterilization machine, to thrust containers to beprocessed onto at least a loading or processing plane positioned insidea lyophilization or processing chamber, and to pick up the containersfrom said plane at the end of processing.

In some variant embodiments, the movement apparatus comprises at least alinear motor that moves, at least for a segment of the travel, a mobileslider or thruster car, both inside and outside the processing chamberin a desired direction, normally parallel to the loading plane and alongits axis.

In particular, according to one form of embodiment the mobile slidercooperates with travel paths, each at least partly defined by acomponent of linear motor, to move the containers from a preparationplane at the front of the machine to the loading plane present in theprocessing chamber and vice versa.

In variant forms of embodiment, the mobile slider comprises anothercomponent of the linear motor with respect to the component that definesthe travel paths.

It comes within the spirit of the invention that part of the travel pathinside the processing chamber is the active part of a linear motor andthat the mobile slider comprises the passive part of the linear motor,or that the part of the travel path inside the processing chamber is thepassive part of the linear motor, and that the mobile slider comprisesthe active part of the linear motor.

Moreover, in a variant form of embodiment it is possible that the partof the travel path inside the processing chamber is a supporting andsliding travel path, and that the mobile slider comprises rolling meansdriven by an electric or mechanical drive mean.

According to possible implementations of the present invention, thelinear motor cooperates with position control means, such as for exampleencoder-type position detector means, to determine the position of themobile slider.

In the case of two linear motors that operate at one end and the otherof the mobile slider, the control means also manage the parallelism ornon-parallelism of the two sides of the mobile slider, and cooperate toalign or misalign them.

In the case where the substances in the containers are magneto-sensitiveor sensitive to electric fields, the car is moved outside the processingchamber by the linear motors and inside the processing chamber bytemporary movement means, such as rotary electric motors oralternatively by mechanical systems driven by rotary cables driven fromoutside, said temporary movement means being on board the thruster car.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of some schematic forms ofembodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to theattached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a machine comprising a movementapparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematization of a movement apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a variant of the solution in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another variant of the solution in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a movement apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a part of the movement apparatus in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of the transmission of motion of a part ofthe movement apparatus in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an example of the transmission of motion of anotherpart of the movement apparatus in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11a is a variant of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 11b and 11c are schematic representations of a variant form ofembodiment of the movement apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows another application of the mobile slider in relation to atransport plane;

FIG. 13 shows other forms of embodiment of the mobile slider in relationto a transport plane;

FIG. 14 shows a possible form of embodiment of a detail of FIG. 13;

FIGS. 15a and 15b show other possible variants of the movement apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows other forms of embodiment of the mobile slider in relationto a transport plane;

FIG. 17 is a schematic and three-dimensional view of one form ofembodiment of a movement apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a schematic lateral view of the apparatus in FIG. 17;

FIGS. 20 to 26 show variant solutions of the apparatus in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a movement apparatus 10 for moving containers11, in this case containers containing pharmaceutical substances, isassociated with a lyophilization machine 12 provided with alyophilization chamber 13, or processing chamber, used to eliminate thewater present in said substances, maintaining the characteristics of theoriginal product. However, it cannot be excluded that the movementapparatus 10 is also associable with a sterilization machine providedwith a sterilization chamber.

The lyophilization chamber 13 can be equipped with means to manage thepressure and depression inside it, and possible means to heat it and/orcool it to the desired temperature.

FIG. 1 is only a stylized lateral schematic view of the lyophilizationchamber 13 and the movement apparatus 10.

During the lyophilization operation, the lyophilization chamber 13 mustbe properly sealed. In this case a sealing door 14 is provided, slidingalong guides 16 according to arrow F2, to prevent infiltrations of air,dust, impurities or other.

The lyophilization chamber 13 is provided with containing walls 15 andis equipped with at least a loading plane 17, or processing plane, tosupport the containers 11 to be subjected to lyophilization.

In the case shown here by way of example, a preparation plane 18,outside the lyophilization chamber 13, is mobile linearly, according toarrow F1, in a known manner, and can translate toward and away from theloading plane 17. In this way an upper surface 19 of the loading plane17 and an upper surface 20 of the preparation plane 18 are aligned. Itis therefore possible to transfer the containers 11 from the preparationplane 18 to the loading plane 17 or vice versa.

Furthermore, thruster means 21 have the function of thrusting andpositioning the containers 11 along the preparation plane 18.

In this case, the containers 11 are introduced and removed into/from thelyophilization chamber 13 by the same station.

One or more guide means 23, in this specific case comprising one or moreguide elements or bars, are attached in cooperation with the loadingplane 17 in a loading-unloading position. The guide means 23, forexample one per side with respect to the loading plane 17 as can be seenfor example in FIG. 2, extend both inside and outside the lyophilizationchamber 13 (FIG. 1).

A slider 27, mobile between the inside of the lyophilization chamber 13and the loading plane 17, is suitable to translate according to arrowF3, in cooperation with the corresponding guide means 23, as can be seenfor example in FIG. 2.

As an alternative to the thruster means 21, the mobile slider 27 can bepositioned in cooperation with the arrival of the containers 11 anditself provide to move said containers 11.

If the mobile slider 27 itself provides to load and unload thecontainers 11, the guide means 23 can be put at the side of thepreparation plane 18 or above it.

In the same way, the guide means 23 are put at the sides of the loadingplane 17, inside the lyophilization chamber 13.

In the case of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the slider 27 is connected to aspecular slider 27, disposed on the opposite side of the loading plane17, by means of a collimation bar 29 (FIG. 6), to coordinate the advanceof both sliders 27. Instead of the collimation bar 29, electronic meansto control the alignment can be provided, such as linear encoders orother.

In the case of FIG. 2, the two sliders 27 support a drawing rod 35 whichin this case can also function as a collimation bar 29.

The drawing rod 35 can be solid with the two sliders 27, or can assume,with respect to the two sliders 27, a thrusting-discharge position and ahigh or raised position (FIG. 3). In the high position, the drawing rod35 transits between the upper part of the containers 11 and the lowerpart of another upper loading plane 117 present in the lyophilizationchamber 13.

If the drawing rod 35 is solid with the two sliders 27, in order todischarge the containers 11, the loading plane 17 is raised incorrespondence with the position defined by the upper loading plane 117,the drawing rod 35 passes to the opposite side, the loading plane 17 isrepositioned in the discharge position and discharge is executed.

As will be seen hereafter, the drawing rod 35 can also be moved by meansof rotation.

Generally speaking, in the case of a single slider 27 or two sliders 27,whether connected or independent, when they include the drawing rod 35they are identified as a mobile slider 53 or thruster car.

According to some possible forms of embodiment, the mobile slider 53 hasdrive means 58 and/or energy supply means 59 suitable to feed the drivemeans 58, which are provided directly on board the mobile slider 53.

In the case shown for example in FIG. 2, the drive means 58 and/or theenergy supply means 59 suitable to feed the drive means 58 can bepositioned in the drawing rod 35 and/or in one or both the sliders 27,or on a base bar 123 of the mobile slider 53 (see FIGS. 17-24).

In the case shown in FIG. 4, the slider 27 is a magnetic linear motorthat slides along a travel path 12 a, or guide means. Similarly, one ormore guide means or elements 23 can be provided to hold the magneticlinear motor in position.

According to a variant, the travel path 12 a or equivalent guide means,can itself be a magnetic linear motor and the slider 27 can be a matingmean that cooperates with the magnetic linear motor for the controlleddisplacement thereof.

In other words, the sliding and controlled magnetic field thatdetermines the advance of the slider 27 can be generated by meanspresent on the slider 27, or by means present on the guide means 23.

Instead of having the magnetic linear motor constituting the guidemeans, or part of them, it is within the spirit of the invention toprovide that the guide means carry in them a drive mean that drives aworm screw, or a belt with ridges, which cooperates with mating meanspresent in the mobile slider 53 to move it in a desired and controlledmanner.

In the case of FIG. 4, the drawing rod 35 can be fixed or mobile.Furthermore, the slider 27 can have on board both drive means and alsocontrol and command means and also, finally, battery means.

In the cases shown by way of example in FIGS. 5 to 11, the followingapplies.

In possible variant forms of embodiment, the guide means 23 are providedwith a horizontal rectilinear guide 24 (visible for example in FIG. 6).

According to some variant forms of embodiment, movement means 52 may beprovided to move the slider 27, or in general the mobile slider 53,present for example in its lower part, which in this case can beprovided with at least a guide roll 28 suitable to move along therectilinear guide 24.

In the case shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, there are a plurality of fixedridges 25 on the guide means 23, advantageously but not necessarily onthe upper face 26 thereof.

The slider 27 is associated with a drive wheel 30 and a driven wheel 31,both partly wound and connected with a track 32, the ridges of whichhave a profile associable with that of the fixed ridges 25.

It is obvious therefore that the slider 27 translates by means of themovement of the track 32 along the plurality of fixed ridges 25.

A positioning arm 33 is associated with the slider 27, on the innerpart, and is pivoted to one end 34. In this way, the positioning arm 33can rotate around an axis X, according to arrow F4 and describing, withthe non-pivoted end, an arc of a circumference.

The drawing rod 35 is attached to the positioning arm 33, at theopposite end to that where the slider 27 is pivoted, and has thefunction of drawing or thrusting the rows of containers 11 disposed onthe loading plane 17 and/or on the preparation plane 18.

The drawing rod 35 can assume at least two positions, that is, aposition of interference with the containers 11, in which it displacesthe containers 11 from the preparation plane 18 to the loading plane 17,and vice versa, and a high position, in which it does not interfere withthe containers 11.

The slider 27 and the positioning arm 33 are driven respectively by afirst rotary cable 36 and a second rotary cable 37, both wrapped in asheath 38.

The motion transmission means are supplied only by way of example. Ifrotary cables are used, they may be replaced by mechanical motors thatreceive the energy for example from loadable elastic means, such assprings.

The first rotary cable 36 transmits the rotational motion to a firstreturn unit 39 (FIGS. 7 and 8), to transmit motion to a first returnshaft 40. A first motion transmission unit 41 transmits the motion,engaging with a first drive wheel 42. The first drive wheel 42 iscoaxial and directly connected, by means of a first rotation shaft 43,to the drive wheel 30 on which the track 32 is mounted. In this way, therotation of the first rotary cable 36 transmits rotation to the drivewheel 30 and allows to translate the slider 27 along the guide means 23.

The second rotary cable 37 (FIGS. 9 and 10) transmits motion to a secondreturn unit 44. By means of a second return shaft 45, the rotation istransmitted by means of a second transmission unit 47 to a second drivewheel 46, with an axis of rotation that is the same as that around whichthe end 34 of the positioning arm 33 rotates. In this way, the rotationof the second rotary cable 37 allows the end 34 of the positioning arm33 to rotate around the axis X.

FIG. 11a shows a variant in which the mobile slider 53 is provided witha first electric motor 48 to drive the drive wheel 30 and a secondelectric motor 49 to drive the positioning arm 33. The mobile slider 53is provided with independent batteries, not shown, and a control andcommand unit 50

Instead of two electric motors, or in the mechanical variant of twomechanical motors or only one mechanical motor, a single electric motorcan be provided that cooperates with selector means to drive the motionand/or rotation.

Instead of the internal energy sources, another variant provides to feedthe energy by means of an electric cable or mechanical cable.

In FIG. 11a , which shows the lyophilization chamber 13 closed and inthe working configuration, the mobile slider 53 can be seen in astand-by position outside the lyophilization chamber 13 to act on thecontainers 11 present in the lyophilization chamber 13, so as to unloadall the loading planes 17. In this case there are energy supply means,for example batteries, on board the slider 27. Furthermore, the mobileslider 53 can be connected to recharging means 51, for example for thebatteries or accumulators, described in detail hereafter.

The spirit of the invention includes a design embodiment that ischaracteristic on each occasion of the designing body.

FIGS. 11b and 11c are used to describe variant forms of embodiment inwhich recharging means 51 of the energy supply means 59 are provided tobe used when the movement apparatus is, for example, stopped, that is,when the lyophilization step is in progress, but without limiting therecharging possibility only to said step when the movement apparatus isstopped. If the energy supply means 59 comprise electric batteries oraccumulators, they can be recharged by coupling with primary electricenergy supply means 61 (FIG. 11b ), such as electric connectorsconnected for example to an electric distribution network, or bywireless recharging means based on the induction effect, based forexample on the transformer principle, or again by wireless rechargingmeans based on the conversion of radio waves to specific frequenciesinto electric energy. Overload control means 60 can possibly beprovided.

In possible variant embodiments, the energy supply means 59 can beessentially mechanical and include elastic means able to accumulate andelastically release kinetic energy, in a controlled and continuousmanner, to determine the movement of the mobile slider 53, or one ormore of its components, along the guide means 23.

For example, in a variant, described with reference to FIG. 11c , theelastic means can include an elastic member 67 associated with each ofthe sliders 27, configured to extend along a drive travel consistentwith the development of the guide means 23.

In this variant, a motion distributor mean 68 may be provided,associated with the drive means 58, so as to selectively determine theadvance or retreat of the mobile slider 53. For example, the motiondistributor mean 68 can be configured to exploit the expansion of theelastic member 67 in the drive travel in order to complete both theoutward and return travel of the mobile slider 53. Furthermore, aregularizer mean 63 may be provided, configured to regularize the travelof the elastic member 67, such as for example an escapement system.

If the energy supply means 59 are mechanical, controlled mechanicalrecharging means 62 are provided. In the case of controlled mechanicalrecharging means 62, they can be equipped at least with temporarycoupling means 64 and overload control means 66.

In some variant forms of embodiment, the elastic means can compriseelastic spring means (as for example in FIG. 11c ). The term spring maybe understood as a traditional mechanical spring, or also a mechanicalmember susceptible to non-permanent elastic deformation following amainly bending stress. Or, in other variants, the elastic means caninclude elastic leaf spring means or also piston-type movementapparatuses driven fluid-dynamically, for example gas pistons, hydraulicpistons, oil-dynamic pistons.

FIGS. 12-16 are used to describe forms of embodiment of a movementapparatus to move containers 11 containing substances, comprisingtransit paths 55, 69 developing at least along an axis of movement toserve several machines, operating stations or user devices. The machinesor user devices can be machines for processing the substances in thecontainers, for example lyophilization and/or sterilization machines,and also machines to fill containers 11 with the substances or toperform other operations on the containers or substances contained inthe containers 11 and/or also packaging machines, canning machines orbagging machines of the containers 11.

The movement apparatus comprises at least a movement, transport and atleast temporary storage plane 54, hereafter transport plane 54, for thecontainers 11, which is provided with autonomous slider-type movementmeans 65 to move the transport plane 54 along the transit paths 55, 69,and with energy supply means, for example of the type described above inconnection with the examples in FIGS. 1-11, to feed the slider-typemovement means 65.

In particular, the transport plane 54 can be configured to cooperate atleast temporally with a mobile slider 53 to move the containers 11 fromand toward said machines or user devices.

For example, in FIG. 12 another and new use of the mobile slider 53 isschematized, in possible association with the transport plane 54. Thetransport plane 54 can include the preparation plane 18 and movementsystems along one axis only, or along two transverse axes, for exampleorthogonal, which can include slider-type movement means 65, which cancomprise linear motors as described here, and transit paths 55, 69.

According to this solution, the transport plane 54 may or may notinclude the guide means or elements 23, fixed, or suitable to generatethe desired and controlled movement in the mobile slider 53.

Furthermore, the transport plane 54 can have its sizes coordinated withthe loading plane 17.

In the case shown by way of example in FIG. 12, a situation is shown inwhich the guide means 23 are fixed and the mobile sliders 53 areautonomous since they contain the energy sources in their structure.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the transport plane 54can have both its own energy source or energy supply means, which feedsthe drive, electric, magnetic or mechanical means located on board thetransport plane 54 to drive the slider-type movement means 65, and alsocontrol and command means suitable to dialog with a control and commandsystem.

In the case of transport planes 54 that have guide means 23 both fixedand equipped with movement means of the mobile slider 53, the movement,transport and at least temporary storage system of the containers 11 ismore elastic, simplified and versatile.

Furthermore, the transport plane 54, in the down times, can cooperatewith an energy source to recharge its own energy supply means.

According to a variant application, in the down times the mobile slider53 can operate on several lyophilization machines 12, or other machinesor work places, depending on the working times that the machines canhave. In this case, the mobile slider 53, equipped with its own movementmeans, for example slider-type movement means 65 of the type describedabove, can cooperate with the specific transit paths 55, 69, or secondguide means, that allow them to move autonomously from onelyophilization machine 12 to another, recognizing it.

These movements are subject to the instructions that a control andcommand system transmits according to the situation or position of thetransport plane 54.

According to another variant, the transport plane 54 can operate withone or more lyophilization machines 12, or also with other work stationsor operating units.

The transport plane 54 can cooperate directly with the sealing door 14,instead of a traditional loading and unloading station, or inassociation with the traditional loading and unloading station.

All the containers 11 on the loading plane 17, or some of them, or againthe containers of several loading planes 17, can find a place on thetransport plane 54.

The transport plane 54, in the case shown here, has the guide means 23mating with the mobile slider 53 and cooperates with the transit paths55, 69 or second guide means.

The guide means 23 cooperate with the guide means 23 inside thelyophilization chamber 13 and present, where necessary, in cooperationwith operating stations or units.

Therefore, the mobile slider 53 can be transferred to a desiredposition, using the transport plane 54, and/or to a work station, incooperation with an operating unit, in coordination with the containers11 and with respect to the containers 11.

The transport plane 54, with known means, that is, with the slider-typemovement means according to the present invention, and on transit pathsfor example indicated by the reference number 55 in FIG. 12, cantherefore be moved as desired to the operating positions upstream ordownstream of the lyophilization machine 12 and with the lyophilizationmachine.

In the position to which it is translated, the transport plane 54performs the operations intended for it, for example the total orpartial loading or unloading or filling, sealing, control, verificationetc. of the containers 11, or other operations even by means of themobile slider 53 if kept present there.

In the case of FIG. 12, the movement apparatus comprises a feed and/ordischarge conveyor belt 57 configured to cooperate at least temporallywith the transport plane 54. For example, the conveyor belt 57 may havelimiter means 56 to limit the loading and/or unloading of the containers11, by means of the mobile slider 53 onto and from the transport plane54.

According to the invention, the mobile slider 53 may have dialog andrecognition means with the transport plane 54. Similarly, the transportplane 54 can have dialog and recognition means with the stations that itcooperates or could cooperate with.

FIG. 13 is used to describe variant forms of embodiment evolved withrespect to what was described with reference to FIG. 12, in which thetransport plane 54 can have movement systems along two orthogonal axes.For example, the transport plane 54 can be moved into differentoperating positions, by means of suitable transit paths 69 andslider-type movement devices 65, to cooperate with differentlyophilization machines 12 disposed according to a desired geometry, forexample parallel or in lines, and to possibly cooperate with otheroperating units, for example filling or packaging stations or other.

If the transport plane 54 has to move along travel paths 12 a thatdefine displacement lines with two transverse axes, for exampleorthogonal, the movement systems include slider-type movement means 65that on each occasion are configured to selectively couple with thetransit paths 69 on which they have to move, compatibly with thegeometric development thereof.

In some variant forms of embodiment, the slider-type movement means 65can be configured retractable with respect to the lower surface of thetransport plane 54, to selectively couple with a corresponding transitpath 69 as a function of the direction of movement to be followed, asshown schematically for example in FIG. 14. For example, the slider-typemovement means 65 can include pairs of movement sliders 65 disposed withtheir operating directrixes angled or intersecting with respect to eachother, or transverse, for example orthogonal, consistent with the angledor intersecting geometric development of the transit paths 69. Forexample, the slider-type movement means 65 can be located incorrespondence with the tops of the lower surface of the transport plane54, as shown for example in FIG. 14 in relation to one of the tops ofthe transport plane 54. Control and command means can manage the whole.

FIG. 13 shows, for each direction of movement of the transport plane 54,pairs of lateral transit paths 69 that cooperate with the slider-typemovement means 65 provided below, near the sides of the transport plane54. The transit paths 69, or second guide means, can develop in atransverse direction, such as for example perpendicular, to thedirection of insertion of the containers 11 into the lyophilizationchamber 13, and also in directions parallel thereto, for example toserve other lyophilization machines 12 or other operating units. Inparticular, as can be seen in FIG. 13, the pairs of lateral transitpaths 69 can be transverse, for example orthogonal, with respect to eachother, or they can intersect.

In this variant form of embodiment, a device 71 may be provided forloading the containers 11, for example with a belt or analogous movementmean, to load the containers 11 onto the transport plane 54, in aloading direction for example transverse to the direction of feed of thecontainers 11 into the lyophilization chamber 13 or with respect toother machines or user devices. To be able to accept the containers 11from the loading device 71, the transport plane 54 can be provided withopenable delimitation means 72, for example constituting a portion ofthe guide means 23, disposed aligned to the direction of feed defined bythe loading device 71.

In some variant forms of embodiment, such as for example as schematizedin FIGS. 15a and 15b , the transport plane 54 can be at least partlydivided into two, that is, it can have an upper part 54 a, for examplethat can function as a preparation plane 18, positionable angularly, bymeans of rotation by a rotation device 73 (FIG. 15a ), or linearly, bymeans of at least partial translation (FIG. 15b ) with respect to a baseor lower component 54 b, which allows the transport plane 54 to movealong the transit paths 69. For example, in the variant shown in FIG.15b it is possible to provide that the preparation plane 18 slideslinearly on guides 77 positioned on the base or lower component 54 b.

FIG. 16 is used to describe a variant form of embodiment, as analternative to what was described with reference to FIG. 13, in which asingle central transit path 69 is provided, to move each of thetransport planes 54 in a determinate direction of movement. It isunderstood that the central transit paths 69 of the transport planes 54can be transverse with respect to each other, for example orthogonal, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 13, and that the slider-type movementmeans 65 can be configured consistently, positioned in a centralposition on the lower surface of the transport plane 54. In particular,the slider-type movement means 65 of a determinate transport plane 54and provided to cooperate with two central transit paths 69 thatintersect are in turn positioned in a configuration with the respectiveoperating directrixes reciprocally angled, or intersecting.

In this variant, in order to balance and stabilize the motion of eachtransport plane 54 along the single central transit path 69, preventingunwanted oscillations around the latter, pairs of support bars 75 areprovided, cooperating in sliding support with the sides of eachtransport plane 54 opposite the corresponding central transit path 69.

FIGS. 17 to 19 are used to describe schematically other variant forms ofembodiment of an apparatus 10 according to the invention.

The drawings show a preparation plane 18 on which containers 11 orbottles arrive and are disposed to be forwarded to a lyophilization orprocessing chamber 13, from which they are then removed, returned to thepreparation plane 18 and finally distanced.

In a known manner, the containers 11 are thrust, through a loading door114, to the lyophilization chamber 13 of a lyophilization machine 12.

A sealing door 14 is provided to seal the loading door 114 from outside.

The containers 11 are positioned in the lyophilization chamber 13 in aknown manner on a loading plane 17 or processing plane.

In the solution shown in FIG. 17, three pairs of transfer and guidelinear motors 118 are provided, in pairs to control both ends of amobile slider 53 or thruster car. Two paired sliding linear motors 120are present on the mobile slider 53.

In the case shown in FIG. 17, the three pairs of transfer and guidelinear motors 118 have intermediate spaces respectively indicated by thereference numbers 121 and 122.

The intermediate space 121 serves to allow the sealing door 14 to closethe loading door 114, sealing it, while the intermediate space 122serves to allow the containers 11 to enter onto the preparation plane 18and to discharge the same from the preparation plane 18.

According to a variant, the intermediate space 122 is not present andthe two pairs of transfer and guide linear motors 118 that would causeit are only one pair.

For the entry and exit of the containers 11 to/from the preparationplane 18, either the transfer and guide linear motors 118 are kept low,or they are equipped with a low position of non-interference and a highposition.

The length of the sliding linear motors 120 is such that they canovercome the intermediate spaces 121 or 122 without losing theircontinuous motion.

According to a variant, means extending before and/or behind the slidinglinear motors 120, for example blocks, tracks or wheels, are present tosupport each sliding linear motor 120 when at least part of it is in theintermediate space 121 or 122.

The systems and devices to keep a transfer and guide linear motor 118reciprocally aligned with a sliding linear motor 120 so as to create anormal linear motor, are of a known type and are understood to beincluded here.

It comes within the spirit of the invention, when it is necessary forpositioning the containers 11 inside the lyophilization chamber 13, toprovide that the mobile slider 53, either wholly or partly, can traversewith respect to the longitudinal axis of the lyophilization chamber 13or the preparation plane 18.

In the attached drawings, which schematically show variant forms ofembodiment, the two components of the linear motor are shownschematically one (120) above the other (118). In practice it is knownthat the two components can also be adjacent to each other, or the onewhich in the drawings is shown below (118) can be above the other (120),and vice versa.

Additionally, the drawings show traditional linear motors, but it alsocomes within the spirit of the invention to use linear motors in whichthe transfer and guide linear motor 118 is cylindrical and the slidinglinear motor 120 slides in relation to it, with a complete or partialtoric form.

In the case shown in FIG. 17, the mobile slider 53 has a bearingstructure consisting at least of a base, or base bar 123, and twothruster walls respectively front 124, which serves to introduce thecontainers 11 into the lyophilization chamber 13, and rear 125, whichserves to remove the containers 11. The base 123, with the front 124 andrear 125 walls, can be fixed or at least partly positionable vertically.For example the base or base bar 123 can be configured to assume atleast two positions, a first working position in which it cooperateswith the containers 11, and a raised position in which it does notinterfere with the containers 11.

For example a control and command unit 50, possible energy supply means59, for example batteries, and wireless communication means 128, such asfor example infrared, radio waves according to one or another of theknown protocols (Wi-fi, Bluetooth, Zig-bee, etc.) or laser ray means,are all found on the base 123.

The base 123, with the front 124 and rear 125 thrust walls, and alsowhat is found on the base 123 as described above, can assume a lowerthrusting position and a higher, passing over position (FIG. 19).

According to a variant, it is possible to provide that, when the mobileslider 53 has to be positioned in the rear part of the containers 11 tothrust them out of the lyophilization chamber 13, it is the loadingplane 17 that is raised, so that the mobile slider 53 can pass under it.

According to a work formulation, the transfer and guide linear motors118 are the active components, and therefore drivable to supply thedesired motion to the sliding linear motor 120.

A remote control and command unit, not shown, governs the whole.

In said work formulation, linear encoders 129, which can be absolute orrelative, associated with the transfer and guide linear motors 118,cooperate with a detector 130 on board the mobile slider 53.

If the linear encoders 129 are present on all the pairs of transfer andguide linear motors 118, it is possible to control the perfectparallelism or correct misalignment of the mobile slider 53.

Through the linear encoders 129 the position of the two lateralcomponents of the mobile slider 53 is transmitted to the control andcommand unit which, acting on the linear motors, positions the mobileslider 53 in the desired condition of alignment.

It comes within the spirit of the invention to provide that instead ofthe linear encoder 129 a guide is provided, for example with teeth, onwhich a wheel engages that makes a rotary encoder rotate.

According to another formulation, the transfer and guide linear motors118 are passive and it is the sliding linear motors 120 that can bedriven to determine the desired displacement in the desired terms. Thisother formulation allows other variants.

One variant provides that the sliding linear motors 120 are fed by meansof a retractable electric cable that can also carry the commands and/orconductors of instructions and information.

According to a different formulation of this variant, instead of theelectric cable a retractable rotary cable is provided, motorized at oneend, which with the opposite end drives a mechanical motor located onboard the mobile slider 53.

Another variant provides that the energy supply means 59 on board themobile slider 53 are suitable to feed the sliding linear motors 120: inthis case, recharging means 51 (FIG. 18), for example at end-of-travel,can be provided.

With reference to the formulation shown in FIG. 20, which is anothervariant of those indicated above, and in which the linear or rotaryencoder 129 can be present, at the side of the transfer and guide linearmotors 118 there is a rack 131 that cooperates with a closed-ringtoothed belt 132 associated with the mobile slider 53 so as tomechanically condition the parallelism of the sides of the latter.

The toothed belt can be idle.

A variant of this solution provides that the closed-ring toothed belt132 also has an internal toothing that cooperates with one or moretoothed wheels 133, rotating and associated with the mobile slider 53.

FIG. 21 shows another variant in which toothed wheels 133, or wheelsthat carry the closed-ring toothed belt 132 of one and the other part ofthe mobile slider 53, are made axially solid by a shaft 134, so as toguarantee the parallelism with mechanical means.

The variant in FIG. 22 provides that rotary electric motors 135, whichinclude encoders 136, are associated with the toothed wheels 133. Thisvariant has two peculiar characteristics: the first is the presence ofthe encoders 136, which provide information to the control and commandunit 50 which allows the control and command unit or the remote controland command unit to correct the position of the two sides of the mobileslider 53. The second characteristic allows to prevent there being atransfer and guide linear motor 118 inside the lyophilization chamber13. In fact, the presence of the rotary electric motors 135 means thatin the lyophilization chamber 13 the mobile slider 53 slides on linearguides without magnets, whether fixed or electrically activated.

The variant in FIG. 23 is similar to the one in FIG. 22, with thedifference that instead of two rotary electric motors 135, phasecontrolled by an electronic system, there is only one rotary electricmotor 135, with the corresponding encoder 136, which by means of theshaft 134 receives and/or supplies motion to the toothed wheels 133present at the two ends of the mobile slider 53.

The variant in FIG. 24 provides that there is a rotary encoder 136associated with the toothed wheels 133.

With reference to the variant solution shown in FIG. 25, the mobileslider 53 consists only of the sliding linear motors 120 that can carry,in the above or lateral container, the control and command unit 50, theenergy supply means 59 and the communication means 128. In the variantsolution shown in FIG. 25, the parallelism between the two components ofthe mobile slider 53 is maintained with one or the other of the systems,mechanical or electronic, previously described. The movement can begenerated by the transfer and guide linear motors 118, or the slidinglinear motors 120 themselves, or for one segment by the sliding linearmotors 120 and for another segment by rotary electric motors 35 ormechanical motors.

Compared with the previous variants, the solution in FIG. 25 ischaracterized by the presence of a mobile thruster bar 224, able toassume a first low position for thrusting the containers 11 toward thelyophilization chamber 13, a second high position of non-interferencewith the containers 11 and a third low position to thrust the containers11 outside the lyophilization chamber 13, toward the preparation plane18.

As we said before, in this case too, instead of raising part of themobile slider 53 it is possible to raise the loading plane 17 from whichthe containers 11 are to be removed, to make the mobile slider 53 passunder it and them again lower the loading plane 17.

The thruster bar 224 can be driven by one or more temporary drive tracks137, fixed or mobile. Each temporary drive track 137 can be toothed anddriven vertically by a jack, for example electric 138, possibly drivenby batteries or by a mechanical mean that, acting on a wheel 139, whichcan be toothed, positions the thruster bar 224. The presence ofanalogous systems on both the sliding linear motors 120 supplies abalanced drive and positioning to the thruster bar 224.

Means are provided to hold the thruster bar 224 in the position desiredon each occasion.

The solution in FIG. 26, compared with that in FIG. 25, has a connectionbar 140, located in a high position, which makes the mobile slider 53rigid and in which the various auxiliary components can be accommodated.

Instead of the mechanical system, for example the type shown in FIG. 25,the thruster bar 224 can be driven by a rotary electric motor, a linearmotor 141 or an electric jack located on board the mobile slider 53. Inthe case of the linear motor 141, for example it can axially drive arack 142 which acts on the toothed wheel 139.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made tothe movement apparatus 10 as described heretofore, without departingfrom the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been describedwith reference to a specific example, a person of skill in the art shallcertainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of movementapparatus, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims andhence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A movement apparatus for a lyophilizationand/or a sterilization machine to move containers containing substances,the apparatus comprising: transit paths including one or more guides anddeveloping at least along an axis of movement to serve several machinesor user devices, the axis of movement being substantially horizontal;and a transport plane for the containers, the transport plane includingone or more guides equipped with one or more sliders, the one or moresliders configured to move the transport plane along the transit paths,and the one or more sliders including one or more magnetic linear motorshaving a battery or electric energy accumulator to power the one or moremagnetic linear motors, the battery or electric energy accumulator beingdisposed on-board the one or more sliders, wherein the transit paths areconfigured to determine the movement of the transport plane along atleast two orthogonal axes of movement, the at least two orthogonal axesof movement being in a single plane, the single plane beingsubstantially horizontal, and wherein the one or more sliders areconfigured to selectively couple with the transit paths.
 2. Theapparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a feed and/or dischargeconveyor belt configured to cooperate at least temporarily with thetransport plane.
 3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the transportplane is configured to cooperate at least temporarily with the one ormore sliders to move the containers from and toward the machines or userdevices.
 4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the transit paths areconfigured to allow displacement of the transport plane from one machineor user device to another.
 5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein theone or more sliders are retractable with respect to a lower surface ofthe transport plane, to selectively couple with a corresponding transitpath as a function of the direction of movement to be followed.
 6. Theapparatus as in claim 1, wherein the one or more sliders comprise pairsof movement sliders disposed with their operating directrixes angled,consistent with the geometric development of the two orthogonal axes ofmovement of the transit paths.
 7. The apparatus as in claim 1, whereinthe transit paths develop in a first linear direction and also indirections angled thereto.
 8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein foreach direction of movement of the transport plane, pairs of lateraltransit paths are provided that cooperate with the one or more slidersprovided below, near the sides of the transport plane.
 9. The apparatusas in claim 1, wherein the one or more sliders are located near the topsof the lower surface of the transport plane.
 10. The apparatus as inclaim 1, wherein for each direction of movement of the transport plane asingle central transit path is provided, associated below the transportplane.
 11. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the one or more slidersof the transport plane cooperate with two central transit paths thatintersect are in turn positioned in a configuration with the respectiveoperating directrixes reciprocally angled.
 12. The apparatus as in claim10, wherein pairs of support bars are provided, cooperating in slidingsupport with the sides of each transport plane opposite thecorresponding central transit path.
 13. The apparatus as in claim 1,wherein the transport plane is associated with a loading device to loadthe containers onto the transport plane.
 14. The apparatus as in claim1, wherein the transport plane is configured able to be at least partlydivided into two, having an upper part, positionable angularly, orlinearly, with respect to a base or lower component.
 15. A plantcomprising a plurality of machines or user devices to receive or supplycontainers containing substances, comprising a movement apparatusaccording to claim 1.